N9020A calibration

[LV_Pro]

Has anyone set up a calibration of an Agilent N9020A MXA for noise figure calibrations. It should create a "state" file that will subsequently "tell" the instrument, when making a noise figure measurement, what settings to use and which "path loss compensation" file to also use for the measurement. I have written a routine that measures the path loss and creates the appropriate compensation file, but I can't seem to find in the instrument's programming manual a hint on how to set up for the cal measurement that would create the appropriate "state file". We are trying to automate as much of this process as we can because we currently have a switch box between the instruments and the UUT and calibrating for the various paths will creates 150+ files when performed manually.

Thanks,

[Adam G]

Hello Putnam,

I was wondering if you are using any NI products to try and calibrate this device? We haven't ever calibrated the device here, anyone else out there have experience with calibrating this instrument?

Best Regards,

Adam G 

[LV_Pro]

Well other than LabVIEW no. The calibration I am actually performing isn't an instrument calibration, per se, but creating state files (instrument control files that when called later provide it with specific setup info) that reference path loss files created previously. We have a switch matrix in our test system that connects the instruments with the UUT's and need to calibrate out the path losses between the UUT and the instrument. Sorry for the confusion. I have, I think, figured it out. I am performing a measurement that measures the path loss at 20 different frequencies within the Band Of Interest and saves this to a file. We have previously run the "NF calibration" and created the required "state files" for each path and BOI, which references the "loss files". To automate this I will use the instruments "recall" command to load the state file and then the "noise figure calibration" command string to initiate the calibration, saving the result to the original "state file" name. My problem was in finding the proper commands, they are part of the instrument's drivers as the Noise Figure hardware is an expensive accessory.

Thanks,

[6666]

I would be interested in the Cal procedure if anyone has been able to do one.

I am still having issues with the drivers.

Can't seem to find the VI that calls out the different Modes, Noise Figure being one of them.

Thanks

jim

[JustinP]

Hello,

We do not have the procedures for individual units that are not our equipment.  The best resource would be the manufacturer of the product to find out procedures for processes such as calibration or function.

Thank you,

Justin

[LV_Pro]

Agilent has a DVD discussing making noise figure measurements, and some articles on how to calibrate your test setup for NF measurements (rather than a calibration of the instrument, which is best done at a metrology lab). Basically, from memory six months ago, it is necessary to determine the path loss to the unit under test, so that the instrument will be able to compensate. As to the vi's for the NF measurements, I'm pretty sure we had to create the commands, they are not part of the basic driver package as NF is an add on to the N9020A, and the programming commands are also not in the instruments manual. I'll try and find the link where the specific commands were listed, then you will have to make your own driver vi's using the ones you downloaded as a guide. This isn't a calibration of the instrument, this is a calibration of the whole test setup to compensate for fixture losses.

[LV_Pro]

The Agilent programmer's manual for the noise figure measurements is here